Smith-Green board approves state common-school loan for staff laptops, hears plan for new phone system

The Smith-Green Community Schools Board on Dec. 15 approved use of a state common-school loan to replace staff laptops and buy audiovisual equipment for a district presentation room, and heard details of a planned switch to a cloud phone system.

A district staff presenter told the board that the State Board approved the district’s loan application on Dec. 10 and said the funds would be used to buy 95 staff laptops, a 120-inch projector, a new projection screen for room 134 and installation services. The presenter said the current staff laptops are five years old and will be out of warranty in January; the district follows a five-year replacement schedule. The presenter asked for board approval for the purchases from the 2025 common school loan fund. (Transcript shows two loan figures — "$17,414" and, later, "107414" — the record is ambiguous and the board packet should be checked for the correct amount.)

Board members asked operational questions about the rollout and warranty; the presenter said devices would be deployed in small groups with onsite support.

The board also heard that district technology staff selected a cloud-based phone system from a vendor identified as Goto to replace an aging on-premises telephone system. Administrators said the district vetted multiple vendors, contacted other districts using the product, and plans installation in June; upfront costs are expected to be covered by an existing safety grant, according to staff.

In addition to the loan approval, the board moved and voted on routine items including the annual personnel agenda and the annual mileage reimbursement rate under policy 6550. The board kept the district mileage reimbursement at the state rate, $0.49 per mile. The board set its January meeting and reorganization for Jan. 5 at 6:30 p.m.

The meeting adjourned at about 7:16 p.m.